An eclectic mix of high-profile voices will lend their support to the legal case against the controversial Rosebank oil field, set to be heard in court later this month. Scottish celebrities, including the likes of Frankie Boyle and Shirley Manson are rallying against Rosebank, set to be developed 80 miles off the coast of the Shetland Islands.
The field, approved by the previous government in 2023, would emit more CO2 than the world’s 28 lowest-income countries combined do in a year. The new government recently conceded that its approval was unlawful and campaigners will now face the field's fossil fuel owners - Equinor and Ithaca Energy - in court. If the campaign groups are successful, the decision to re-approve Rosebank may end up back on the government’s desk.
The Scottish Court of Session will hear the case from the 12th November, while world leaders gather for COP29 in Azerbaijan. On the eve of the hearing, Frankie Boyle will host a panel discussion in Edinburgh: ‘Big Oil in Court; Rosebank and the fight for the North Sea’, where guests will discuss the future of the controversial project.
In advance of the case, a variety of celebs, including Chris Packham, Bonnie Wright, and EnterShikari’s Rou Reynolds, join forces with renowned climate leaders and social activists campaigning against the field. The diverse coalition teams up with the likes of Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, professors, conservationists and more. The group even includes Olympic gold medal rower, Imogen Grant, artist Luke Jerram and economist Kate Raworth. The broad church of support shows that opposition to Rosebank is growing - and is not just a concern for climate campaigners, coming weeks after bishops, farmers and doctors asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pull the plug on Rosebank for good. Supporters include:
See the latest list of celebrity, expert and organisational support here.
If you would like to attend the panel discussion with Frankie Boyle on Monday 11th November in Edinburgh, please sign up here.
Frankie Boyle, Comedian & Writer said:“Soon the earth will be so utterly destroyed that the only thing left will be Simon Cowell’s face, drifting through space like a chip wrapper. Rosebank was approved by the tories, who for some reason thought that drilling for more oil and gas was the answer. “Campaigners have since been driven to the courts in order to stop the field from going ahead. I look forward to hosting a discussion on this ahead of the court hearing later this month.”
Chris Packham, Wildlife TV Presenter & Conservationists commented:“Rosebank and Jackdaw… the fact these oil fields have names derived from nature is added insult to the fact that fossil fuels are driving the collapse of our living world.“It’s not just unlawful to continue drilling for oil at a time of climate breakdown, it’s unhinged. Our world is on fire and Equinor and Ithaca are not just fanning the flames, they’re literally pouring oil onto an intensifying inferno. Rosebank must be stopped.”
Christiana Figueres, previous Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC said:“The matter is actually quite simple: there is no atmospheric space for any more oil and gas. Period.”
Bill McKibben, US environmentalist & author commented:"The science is clear and unequivocal - to have any chance of slowing the climate crisis, we must leave fossil fuels beneath the surface of the earth where they can do no damage. Rosebank is a very good place to put this maxim to work."
